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Remembering Bucko

Before Bill Belichick began his wrap-up of the Patriots' draft picks, he took time to mention Bucko Kilroy, the longtime executive and former player who passed away last July at age 86.

"We were definitely missing the presence of Bucko," Belichick said. "He's been such a pillar here for so long, particularly as it relates to the draft. It was such an exciting day for him -- and for all of us -- and even in his later years he never lost his enthusiasm and zest for these two days."

Francis "Bucko" Kilroy was an All-Pro player with the Eagles, earning that honor as both an offensive guard and defensive middle guard. He joined the Patriots in 1971 as the team's player personnel director, becoming general manager in 1979. He served as a team vice president from 1983 until his retirement a decade later. But Kilroy never really retired -- until his death he assisted the scouting department and still put in several hours a week in his office.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Belichick wraps up picks

Bill Belichick just met with the media to wrap up draft weekend and discuss the picks made -- and not made -- by the Patriots.

"Who ever thought you'd be covering a Bill Belichick draft with no offensive linemen, no defensive linemen, no tight ends?," he quipped.

Belichick relayed the story of how the draft with San Diego for the 69th pick came to be: a team official had linebacker Shawn Crable on the phone, but just before Crable could be told that he was drafted, the Chargers called wondering if the 69th pick could be had.

So Crable was put on hold, the Patriots swung the trade that netted them a second-round pick next year as well as a fifth-round pick this year (which was later dealt to Tampa Bay in order to acquire Matthew Slater) and the Michigan linebacker was still available with New England's second third-round slot, the 78th.

Belichick compared Crable to Pierre Woods, saying that both are tall and a little on the thin side but rangy and good special-teams players.

As for quarterback Kevin O'Connell, whom pundits were saying was a reach in the third round (not that Belichick listens to pundits), Belichick said, "He's a big, strong, athletic quarterback, he played on a passing team, in a passing league. In all honesty, he played behind not a very good line, so he was on the run quite a bit."

Pats' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels traveled to San Diego to work out O'Connell himself, and McDaniels' opinion did influence the team's decision to draft him. Most important, however, was what the team saw of O'Connell on tape as well as what coaches and players who may know him said about him, Belichick added.

Though New England is done making its picks, Belichick noted that the draft isn't really over yet because as soon as the final pick of the night is made, then it's open season on free agent rookies to fill out the roster. He credited Scott Pioli and the rest of the scouting department for the work that they did -- getting a late start because of the Super Bowl -- getting the staff ready for the draft.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 5:50 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

What's happened to Silva?

As we type, the Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock with the 210th pick in the draft, and East Providence native and Boston College star Jamie Silva has yet to get the call from an NFL team.

Why?

Several scouts we spoke with before the draft spoke highly of Silva, particularly his skills around the ball. Silva's workout numbers weren't impressive, particularly his time in the 40 dash, but the feeling with Silva is that he was a football player, not an athlete. As colleague Jim Donaldson noted, the sum of Silva is much better than the individual parts would attest.

Most pundits figured Silva was a fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Hendricken's Sherry picked by Bengals

Former Hendricken all-stater Matt Sherry was just drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with one of the final picks of the sixth round, 207th overall.

A Rumford native, Sherry played at Villanova, where the 6-foot-4, 255 pounder was a standout tight end and team captain.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:51 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats draft LB Bo Ruud at #197

The Pats have made their final pick of the day, and it is Nebraska LB Bo Ruud.

Ruud is a 6-foot-4, 234 pound outside linebacker and was the sixth member to play for the Huskers, joining his father, brother Barrett (a starter in Tampa Bay), two uncles and his great-grandfather.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:26 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Patriots pick UCLA wide receiver Matt Slater at 153

Other than now being a member of the New England Patriots, Matt Slater's other claim to fame is that he is the son of Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater.

Slater's career with the Bruins apparently never really took off because of injuries and position changes -- he began his time as a receiver, then switched to corner and then to safety. He was set back by turf toe, a stress reaction in his left leg, and a shoulder injury.

However, he was able to become one of the most respected players in the UCLA locker room according to a newspaper article printed last year.

The 6-foot, 198 pounder is fast -- he finished second in the 100 meters in the California state championships as a high school senior -- and embraced a role on special teams.

UPDATE: We're told that the young man would like to be called Matthew, not Matt...

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:48 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats select CB Jonathan Wilhite at #129

New England has selected corner Jonathan Wilhite, who played at Auburn, with its fourth-round pick.

Wilhite is 5-foot-10, 185 pounds.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Patriots-Buccaneers trade late-round picks

New England gave the Buccaneers the fifth-round (160th overall, received from San Diego earlier today) and seventh-round (238th overall) picks, and received the 153rd pick in return.

As of now, the Pats have one pick left, the 197th.

When Stacey James, the team's media spokesman, announced that we'd have to be sticking around a little longer -- he initially said the team had traded the 197 spot and the 160th would be New England's final pick of the weekend -- it was met with boos all around. The prospect of getting home in time for dinner was enticing to one and all here in the pressbox.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats trade again, are on the clock

New England has made a trade with Tampa Bay, and is now on the clock at pick 153.

Thanks to its trade with New Orleans yesterday, the Pats did not have a fifth-round selection.

Details of the trade coming shortly.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats take San Diego State QB Kevin O'Connell at #94

New England has selected San Diego State quarterback Kevin O'Connell with its third-round pick at number 94.

O'Connell is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and his arrival in Foxboro is a clear sign to backup Matt Cassel that he's facing a challenge for his job. Cassel has one year left on his rookie contract, and like backups before him (Rohan Davey), has been given three years to prove himself.

The California native amazingly served as a team captain with the Aztecs for four years, and also was the first player in team history to lead the team in passing and rushing yards, last fall.

It's also pretty funny that in his nfl.com profile, O'Connell is compared to...Matt Cassel. Except, as colleague Dave Pevear of the Lowell Sun pointed out, O'Connell actually played in some games in college (Cassel hasn't started a game since high school).

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats take LB Crable at #78

The Patriots have drafted Michigan LB Shawn Crable with the 78th pick.

Listed at 6-foot-5, 241 pounds, Crable is an outside linebacker and has long arms, good for shedding offensive linemen when he's rushing the passer. He had 28.5 tackles for a loss last season, which was second-most in the country.

Crable already has something in common with current Pats' linebacker Pierre Woods: both are Ohio natives that ended up at hated Michigan.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Trade details

The Patriots come out ahead once again:

San Diego will give New England their second-round pick in 2009 as well as their fifth-round pick today, which is number 160.

The Chargers did not have a third-round pick before the trade, and with Pro Bowl fullback Lorenzo Neal now gone, they clearly wanted to get their hands on Hester, who won the national championship with LSU last fall.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Pats make another trade

Surprise! (If you're still sleepy, this is me being funny...)

The Patriots have just traded their first third-round pick, number 69, to San Diego. The Chargers chose LSU fullback Jacob Hester with the spot.

Details on the trade to come.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments 0

Draft Day 2: Back at Gillette

Hey all --

We are back here at Gillette Stadium, waiting for Day 2 of the 2008 NFL Draft to get underway at 10 o'clock. The Miami Dolphins will pick first in round three, and New England currently has the first of its three picks in the round a short time later, at number 69.

We will be back throughout the day with updates.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 9:44 AM | Permalink | Comments 0